Natalie Wood

Hollywood Mystery

In November 2011, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department re-opened its investigation in the death of actress Natalie Wood nearly 30 years after the actress drowned in the waters off Southern California. It is one of Hollywood's most enduring mysteries.

Natalie Wood

The drowning death of actress Natalie Wood in 1981 shocked the world. At the time of her death, Wood had been enjoying Thanksgiving weekend on the Splendour, the family yacht, with her husband, actor Robert Wagner, boat captain Dennis Davern, and her "Brainstorm" co-star, actor Christopher Walken. After a two-week investigation, Wood's death was ruled an accidental drowning.

Dogged Investigators

Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators, Lt. John Corina, left, and Det. Ralph Hernandez, have been working the Natalie Wood case ever since they reopened it in November 2011. Here, the detectives are pictured outside of Robert Wagner's home in California.

Death Investigation Reopened

In 2011, 30 years after Natalie Wood's death, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reopened the case. At the press conference, Lt. John Corina, center, was asked if Wood's husband, Robert Wagner was considered a suspect. Corina responded, "No."

Credit: CBS News

Natalie Wood's Death Certificate

Authorities amended actress Natalie Wood's death certificate on Aug. 1, 2012, to reflect some of the lingering questions about how the actress died in the waters off Catalina Island in November 1981. The changes include changing her manner of death to "Drowning and other undetermined factors" and adding the statement "Circumstances not clearly established" to address the question how did Wood end up in the water.

What Happened That Night?

Years after Natalie Wood's death, Dennis Davern, the captain of Splendour, changed his story about what happened that night, sold it to tabloid magazines, and collaborated on a tell-all book. But Davern says he was motivated by his conscience. In 2011, he told "48 Hours," "What I really want is to give Natalie a voice." He also said, "I believe that Robert Wagner was with her up until the moment she went into the water."

Credit: Dennis Davern and Marti Rulli

Death Investigation Reopened

Homicide detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department aboard the Splendour on their first trip to Hawaii in December 2011 to re-investigate the death of actress Natalie Wood.

The Splendour

The 55-foot yacht Splendour, belonging to actor Robert Wagner and his wife, actress Natalie Wood, sits in the waters off Catalina Island in Santa Catalina, Calif., near the site where Harbor Patrol personnel and lifeguards discovered the body of Wood, an apparent drowning victim, Nov. 29, 1981.

Credit: AP Photo/Harrington

The Splendour

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood's yacht, Splendour. Wood drowned in 1981, after a night of partying with husband Wagner and "Brainstorm" co-star Christopher Walken on the couple's yacht anchored off Santa Catalina Island.

Credit: Dennis Davern

A Life in the Movies

Natalie Wood got her first role at the age of four in the movie "Happy Land" (1943). By 1946, at age eight, she was making $1,000 a week.

Natalie Wood's Career

Wood continued playing roles of young girls until the age of 17, where she landed the role of Judy in the film "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955), opposite James Dean and Sal Mineo.

Credit: AP

Natalie Wood's Career

Natalie Wood and James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955). She received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress as the girlfriend of Dean's troubled youth.

Credit: Warner Brothers

Natalie Wood's Career

Actress Natalie Wood pictured in 1955.

By 1950, Wood was the queen of fan magazines and the second biggest actress next to Elizabeth Taylor. During her career, Wood made 56 films for TV and the big screen, among them "West Side Story" (1961).

Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Natalie Wood's Career

After spending years on the trail of an Indian party that kidnapped his young niece, Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) finally comes upon Debbie, now 15 (played by Natalie Wood), in the John Ford classic "The Searchers" (1956), which also starred Jeffrey Hunter.

Credit: Warner Brothers

Movie Stars Marry

Actress Natalie Wood and actor Robert Wagner cut their wedding cake after their wedding in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Dec. 28, 1957. They divorced four years later - and remarried in 1972.

Natalie Wood's Career

Natalie Wood's Career

Natalie Wood and husband Robert Wagner on the set of "All the Fine Young Cannibals" (1960).

Credit: AP Photo/DFS

Natalie Wood's Career

Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty in "Splendor in the Grass" (1961). Wood received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for the tale of forbidden love.

Credit: Warner Brothers

Natalie Wood's Career

Richard Beymer as Tony and Natalie Wood as Maria in the Oscar-winning musical "West Side Story" (1961). The film received 11 Academy Awards.

Credit: MGM

Natalie Wood's Career

Natalie Wood starred as the stripper Louise Hovick - a.k.a. Gypsy Rose Lee - in the film version of the musical "Gypsy" (1962), which also starred Rosalind Russell as "Mama Rose." The real Gypsy Rose Lee visited the set during filming and offered Wood some pointers on stripping.

Credit: Warner Brothers

Natalie Wood's Career

Actors Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood chat together at the Cannes Festival in May 1962. They were promoting their film, "Splendor in the Grass," a drama about teen love.

Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Natalie Wood's Career

Natalie Wood in 1963.

Credit: AP Photo

Natalie Wood's Career

Natalie Wood received a third Oscar nomination for her starring role in "Love With the Proper Stranger" (1963), in which she played a salesgirl who becomes pregnant after a brief affair with a musician, played by Steve McQueen.

Credit: Paramount Pictures

Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood's Career

In "Sex and the Single Girl" (1964), inspired by the advice book for young women by Helen Gurley Brown, Woods played psychologist "Helen Brown," who becomes the target of a tabloid reporter (Tony Curtis) seeking an expose.

Credit: Warner Brothers

Natalie Wood's Career

Actor Paul Newman and actress Natalie Wood pose with their statuettes at the 23rd Golden Globe Awards dinner in Hollywood, Calif., Feb. 1, 1966. Wood received the World Film Favorite Female award and Newman was honored with the World Film Favorite Male award.

Credit: AP

Natalie Wood

A picture taken in the 1960s shows actress Natalie Wood during a trip to France.

Natalie Wood's Career

Wagner & Wood Remarry

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood, who had divorced in 1962, were remarried on a borrowed yacht, the Ramblin' Rose, in 1972.

Credit: Mart Crowley

Romance Rekindled

Actors Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood pose at the Dorchester Hotel in London, England, April 23, 1972. The couple had one daughter together, and each had a daughter from previous marriages.

Credit: AP Photo

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood

Actress Natalie Wood and actor Robert Wagner arrive at Nice airport in Nice, France on May 4, 1972.

Credit: AP Photo

Natalie Wood's Career

Playwright Tennessee Williams, left, actress Natalie Wood, and Robert Wagner pose for photographers at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1976. Wood and Wagner starred in a 1976 TV remake of Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

Credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood, her children Natasha, center, Courtney, right, and her husband, Robert Wagner, arrive at a London airport July 4, 1976.

Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood are shown arriving for the 50th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, April 3, 1978. At the time Wagner was starring in the TV series, "Hart to Hart."

Natalie Wood

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood

Playwright Mart Crowley, left, with Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner on the couple's yacht, Splendour.

Credit: Mart Crowley

Natalie Wood

Actress Natalie Wood is seen on Jan. 17, 1979.

Credit: AP Photo

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood

The actors are shown in 1980.

Credit: AP Photo/Steve Wood

Wood's Final Film

Natalie Wood died during production of the science fiction thriller "Brainstorm." Here she is pictured with co-stars Christopher Walken, Louise Fletcher and Cliff Robertson.

Credit: MGM

Natalie Wood

The gravesite of actress Natalie Wood Wagner is seen in the Westwood Village Memorial Park. Wood, a three-time Oscar nominee famous for roles in "West Side Story," "Rebel Without a Cause" and other Hollywood hits, was 43 when she died in November 1981.